Garann, I don't know if labor rights is included, but it's a good issue to add to the big picture. If you are able to view the MonsterBoard discussion thread, then you've probably gathered, as I have, that the responses to an earlier thread were overwhelming and emotional, hence the idea of a letter writing campaign. Many of the responders on Monster are unemployed, and two appear to have lost their jobs to cheaper H1-B replacements (or they claim they have). I sent a separate message to the moderator/initiator of the idea of the letter writing campaign, via Yahoo, giving him my 2 cents worth on not letting this move into an H1-B bashing affair. As a former gov't worker (like yourself), and a former protestor and activist, I wanted to warn him that his good intentions could get subverted by people who are looking for someone to blame for their current job/jobless situation. If he lets that happen, then he will have a hard time obtaining media support, and support by respected groups like IEEE, whom he is hoping to solicit to join his letter writing campaign. None of these groups, and myself included, want to be associated with any "radical" group that appears, or is perceived to be, prejudiced against foreigners coming over to the US or working in the US. The focus should be maintained on the fact that there is NOT an IT shortage in the US, and that there are plenty of US workers to fill the jobs.
If you have a home PC, feel free to join via your home email address. Or if you are concerned about your identity being found out, sign up for a hotmail/yahoo email account, and then join the yahoo group. Either way, as a former federal worker, I know that you are not required to recuse yourself from political activities, as long as they do not directly contradict the mission statement of the agency you are employed with. Many of my activist activities date back to when I was a federal worker in the 1980's. Check with whomever handles employee ethics in your agency to get guidance if you have any concerns before joining the letter writing campaign. Celeste -----Original Message----- From: Means, Garann R. [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2002 3:05 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Off-Topic Post: US IT Letter Writing Campaign to Members of C ongr ess/House on Sept 2, 2002 Celeste, That's an interesting thread. As a government employee, it's best that I not get involved with political issues from my desk, so I didn't feel it was appropriate for me to sign up for the Yahoo group, and thus can't see the messages. Perhaps you could tell me, is the campaign at all trying to address the labor rights (or lack thereof) of H1B workers? I notice you have at least one former H1B worker responding to the thread in Monster - are you trying to get other current and former H1B's involved to detail the extent of what some perceive as abuses allowed to exist under that system? It seems like an integral part of your argument - the possibility that the program is good for neither citizens NOR foreign workers. Just my two cents. Nice to see programmers thinking about the world outside their boxes! g. -----Original Message----- From: Haseltine, Celeste [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: July 09, 2002 - Tuesday 11:50a To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Off-Topic Post: US IT Letter Writing Campaign to Members of Congr ess/House on Sept 2, 2002 This is an off-topic post, for those of you who wish to delete this item prior to reading. A couple of people who were corresponding on one of the Monster Board forums, garnered enough feedback/support, that they have decided to start a nationwide letter writing campaign to members of the US House and Senate on Sept 2 (Labor day). It is my understanding that the IEEE, and other various IT related organizations in the US are considering participation in this effort (see thread http://forums.technology.monster.com/viewmessage.asp?messageid=2347554 on MonsterBoard). The intent of the campaign is to let our respective representatives know that there is NOT a shortage of IT personnel in the US, contrary to what recent studies/reports and the lobby groups for the Fortune 100's would like our representatives to believe. A group has been formed on Yahoo for this purpose, and you can go to http://groups.yahoo.com/ and search for the group "htwprotest". If you do not have a Yahoo memberID, you will first need to sign up for one (it's free). You can then sign up to a participating member of this effort if you are interested. Celeste Haseltine, PE =========================================================================== To unsubscribe: mailto [EMAIL PROTECTED] with body: "signoff JSP-INTEREST". For digest: mailto [EMAIL PROTECTED] with body: "set JSP-INTEREST DIGEST". Some relevant FAQs on JSP/Servlets can be found at: http://archives.java.sun.com/jsp-interest.html http://java.sun.com/products/jsp/faq.html http://www.esperanto.org.nz/jsp/jspfaq.jsp http://www.jguru.com/faq/index.jsp http://www.jspinsider.com =========================================================================== To unsubscribe: mailto [EMAIL PROTECTED] with body: "signoff JSP-INTEREST". For digest: mailto [EMAIL PROTECTED] with body: "set JSP-INTEREST DIGEST". Some relevant FAQs on JSP/Servlets can be found at: http://archives.java.sun.com/jsp-interest.html http://java.sun.com/products/jsp/faq.html http://www.esperanto.org.nz/jsp/jspfaq.jsp http://www.jguru.com/faq/index.jsp http://www.jspinsider.com =========================================================================== To unsubscribe: mailto [EMAIL PROTECTED] with body: "signoff JSP-INTEREST". For digest: mailto [EMAIL PROTECTED] with body: "set JSP-INTEREST DIGEST". Some relevant FAQs on JSP/Servlets can be found at: http://archives.java.sun.com/jsp-interest.html http://java.sun.com/products/jsp/faq.html http://www.esperanto.org.nz/jsp/jspfaq.jsp http://www.jguru.com/faq/index.jsp http://www.jspinsider.com
